San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-18
C ON DITTO MS.
MISS WEBER'S MISTAKE.
BY MRS. W. b. PALMER.


your voice-your presence altogether,
overcame my resolution. But will not
ask YOU to forgive me. When people
have crossed an impossible gulf there 10
no way of getting back, and 1t is useless
to apologize. We have passed that gulf,
Marian. We are no longer friends-we
are lovers. We are more than lovers
we are in the future man and Wife"
She was like statue save for the
faint pink flush in the face, the almos
imperceptible tremble of her slim hands.
Look at me, dearest. have fright
ened you'll" continued Marble, anxious
~. "But have not surprised you,
Marian. You knew that would not
live without you. Could you think I
would leave you alone, with people who
defame me2o and he frowned.
MRS. Lauriston is my best friend,
Floyd" said Miss Weber, family.
He did not fail to notice that she used
his first name.
"No, Marian, she is not, for she would
means happiness it notp Ones
best friends do not seek to prevent their
Again Miss Weber shivered, without
response.
"You have fortune-the Lauristons
would have you marry fortune" Mar
BILE went on, bitterly. "What they have
against me is that I am poor. For all
that, can make you happy. can notp
Answer me that, Marian Weber, Do
you not believe in your secret soul that
could make you happyp"
Sometimes" she faltered, II have
thought So"
think so always, my sweet queenl
All, Marian, you have spoken to me in
other language than words. Doyou re-
member Shelley lines:
"we,-are we not made us notes in music are
For one another, though dissimilarr'
Your hearts answers yes to that, Mar
ian Weber! | love you; l need you.
You-say it. Marian-that you love me,
too" -
She raised her eyes soft and languid
with emotion, to his face. For once
even he, lover as he was of beauty,
thought her beautiful.
at is all very sudden, Floyd" she
said, gently; shut yet in some ways ]
was prepared, For will acknowledge
that / have thought that some time 1t
might come to this between us, If !
were young girl, now, might mis-
trust myself might from sense
of duty listen to others. But I am
twenty-five. have been my own mis-
tress good many years. 1have known
. good many people. Perhaps I know
for myself what want better than any
one else can"
She paused, and pressed her hands
softly, but said nothing. AS he pressed
them she withdrew them gently from
his.
"I have condition to impose" she
aoid Avrn1u furpip0 har lnva-lit fora RI
his again. ''There must be no engage
ment here. None, in fact, till our re-
turn. You-we-must behave as
friends, Floyd. The Lauristons must
see your character as / see it. You
say" she went on, as q frown settled
over his face again, "that you came to
prove your power of self-control. Now,
Floyd, prove it."
"You ask-too much"
"Too muchl" she echoed, sadly
81 am wrong. am not myself where
you are concerned. You are an angel.
How could deny the only thing you
exact of mel Howp-O, Marian, be-
cause love you. Yes, Ipromise, sweet
est heart, will do my best not to be-
tray what you have granted me. And
tn return-am ] selfish TO ask q returnp
but in return promise me that our en-:
gagement shall be s'sh6rt one, An
bounced, let us say, before Christmas,
and consummated early in the New
Year"
at is not quite an engagement yet,
Floyd"
''But you will promise"
tiff you will do as l say. II you
behave as mere friend while we are
together, so that / can tell Georgina
that am testing your character"
II will do my best to please you,
Marian"
"You must stay away-hunting,
sketching, fishing -.as the rest do.
Georgina and l are nearly always alone.
There is plenty Of game. Phil Porter
has two splendid dogs"
"How ready you are TO get rid Of
mel" reproachfully.
"Is that tbs way you eonEtrue mel"